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Itogon

Itogon is a 1st class municipality in the province of Benguet. Total land area of Itogon is 49,800 hectares. The town is bounded on the northwest by the
municipalities of La Trinidad and Tublay, on the northeast by the municipality of Bokod, on the southwest by the province of Nueva Vizcaya, on the south by
the province of Pangasinan, and on the west by the municipality of Tuba and Baguio City.

The Municipality is 19 kilometers from Baguio City and about 26 kilometers from the Provincial Capitol at La Trinidad. It is situated 330 kilometers north
of Manila via Naguilian Road and 269 kilometers via Kennon Road.

According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 46,705 people in 8,588 households.

Generally inhabited by Ibalois, Itogon’s main source of livelihood is mining. Secondary to mining is agriculture.

Itogon is politically subdivided into 9 barangays.

How to get here:

1. For visitors coming from Manila, Pangasinan, Ilocos Regions, Cagayan Valley, and Nueva Vizcaya, there are several available PUBs and other forms of public
utility vehicles bound to the City of Baguio.

2. The Municipality is accessible by land transportation through three entry points namely: Baguio-Bua-Itogon National Road; Baguio -Kias-Balatoc Provincial
Road; and the Benguet Vizcaya National Road.

3. Air transport facility is available at Loacan airport in the City of Baguio which is 13 km. from the Municipality.

4. Public utility jeeps bound to the different barangays of the Municipality are available at the City.

Tourist Spot:

1. Balatoc Tours in Virac

2. Open Pit mines in Loacan

3. Hot spring in Dalupirip - located at Asin, Dalupurip, 29 kilometers away from Baguio City. At present, it is still undeveloped but a number of people
visit the place and take a dip at the pool.

4. Mt. Ugo in Tinongdan - has an elevation of 2,150 meters above sea level. Its name was derived from the Ibaloi word “Ugoan” which means to cut the neck/
throat. Also known as the “plane grabber” since there are already three planes that crashed the said mountain.

The first one happened in the early 1960’s, a UC45 CAB from Cubi Airport crashed at the slope of Mt. Ugo in Kalaudan. Mr. Tomas Lacquias, a nearby resident
rescued the victims (3 pilots). He named his 3-day old baby boy after one of the pilots, Lindsay.

Second was in June 26, 1987, a Philippine Airline (PAL) plane from Manila bound to Loakan Airport crashed on the Southern portion of Mt. Ugo, about 1 km.
down from the peak, killing all passengers and crew on board. This is the most tragic incident in the history of air transport in Benguet. Mr. Tomas Lacquias
and his son Lindsay were the first to rescue.

Third was the rescue helicopter that crashed nearly killing the rescue team of the second incident wherein Mr. Lacquias and son was part of it. As a sign of
gratitude to Mr. Lacquias, the PAL management sent Lindsay to school to take up Aircraft Mechanic Course after which he was hired and is now a proud employee
of the country’s flag-carrier company. Nevertheless, these series of accidents did not bring any negative impression or effect to the mountain. Instead, it
has paved the way to its discovery as a tourist attraction. Yearly thereafter, treks were made by PAL employees as well as the victims’ relatives to light
candles & offer prayers in commemoration to their loved ones. They were also enticed with its cool temperature and its unique flora and fauna. Presently,
several mountaineering followed, and now, an alternative to Mt. Pulag.

5. Mummies in Damolpos - This is where five mummies named Matuday, Jaga-e, Ongiao, Wiloly and Ticol (children of Shomolpos and Colon) are being kept for
ceremonial purposes by the community. The community observes the traditional way of celebrating festive occasions like wedding, harvest, birth, and even
burials. These five mummies are kept in a room made of cogon grass and pine tree. AT present, there are only four mummies found at Domolpos since one of the
mummies was stolen.

6. Benguet Mines Tourism

7. 1300L Pools

8. Itogon Training Center and sleeping quarters (ITC) - it is a 280-square meters training center with at least 100 sitting capacity. The best venue for
trainings, seminars, conferences, and other forms of social gatherings. The 420 square meters two-storey Sleeping Quarters is a home away from home
accommodation facility with family rooms, one suite room and a function room suited for the convenience of the guests. The cool temperature in the area
makes it convenient for every activity.

9. Binga Dam - The Binga Hydroelectric plant is 215 meters long and 107.37 meters high with a 94.50-meter long spillway. It is more or less 31 km. East of
Baguio City and 19 km. downstream of the Ambuklao Hydroelectric Plant. Its construction started in August 1956 and in full operation in March 31, 1960. The
views of the pine-clad mountains and the valleys & rivers below are just beautiful and worth seeing.

Itogon is classified under the type II climate or the two pronounced seasons, the wet and the dry. The dry season lasts from December to March and the wet
season, the remaining months.